A British Blue cross heifer has been selected overall champion at Thainstone’s Spectacular event.
Sponsored by Clydesdale Bank, the annual show and sale of exhibition cattle, suitable for future showing, enjoyed a strong trade at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie on Friday August 25.
John Angus, store breeding and pedigree cattle manager at Aberdeen & Northern Marts, said: “We’d like to congratulate everyone on their accomplishments today, at another excellent Spectacular event.
“As always, the event attracted a line-up of prize-winning livestock with a great ringside of buyers looking for cattle to feature in the upcoming show and sale competitions. Our new weight-based format worked well and we are very pleased with the results of today’s show and sale.”
The top price of £6,000 was paid by Garreth Small, Irvington Close, Kilkeel, County Down, for an 11-month-old Limousin cross bullock, weighing 463kg, from J Robertson & Co, Newton of Logierait, Pitlochry, which won the champion bullock section for animals born in 2016 and the British Limousin Cattle Society prize. The prized animal – by Calogale Irresistable – was champion and commercial cattle champion at Perth Show and champion of champions at Aberfeldy.
The overall champion – selected by show judge Robert A. Elias, Hendre Cennin Isaf, Cennin, Garndolbenmaen – was an 11-month-old British Blue cross heifer ‘Kiss This’, weighing 572kg, from J Munro & Son, Invercharron Farm, Ardgay, which sold for £2000 to Blair Duffton, 2 Bogie Street, Huntly. By ‘Diablo’, the 572kg heifer came first in the haltered heifers born in 2016 class, was named champion in the haltered heifer born in 2016 category, and achieved the title of overall champion born in 2016.
A six-month-old Charolais cross bullock, weighing 350kg, from A C Fotheringham, Ballinloan, Dunkeld was named champion in the haltered bullock born in 2017 category. The bullock was also awarded the British Charolais Cattle Society prize and sold to L Pidsley, Upton Ley Farm, Honiton for £1,550.
Gordon Begg’s, Vauldale, Nybster, seven-month-old British Blue cross heifer, weighing 362kg, claimed the champion heifer born in 2017 category and sold for £2,350 to Louise Allan, Ayr.
Following the success of the show champion, J Munro & Son, Invercharron Farm, Ardgay, also sold two of their summer show prize-winners. Six-month-old Limousin cross heifer, ‘Cracker’, sold at £4,450 to Blair Duffton, 2 Bogie Street, Huntly and achieved reserve champion haltered heifer born in 2017 at today’s Spectacular. The heifer was unbeaten in her class across the summer circuit.
11-month-old British Blue cross heifer, ‘Hard to Resist’, dominated the summer circuit, winning reserve commercial champion at the Black Isle and Sutherland shows, and reserve cross cattle champion at Caithness and Grantown. She sold today for £2,500 to I P Hyslop, Ballaquane Park, Peel.
J Robertson & Co, Newton of Logierait, Pitlochry, had a successful day at Thainstone selling a team of eight, including today’s top price. Their Limousin cross heifer sold for £2,800 to Watson & Work, Mains of Dumbreck, Ellon, alongside a Limousin cross bullock to B S Paton, Knachly, Kirriemuir for £2,800 and today’s reserve champion haltered heifer born in 2016 – a Limousin cross heifer sold to Blair Duffton, 2 Bogie Street, Huntly for £2,600.
Heifers sold to £4,450 to average 439.5p/kg and £1,976.02 per head. Bullocks sold to £6,000 to average 382.4p/kg and £1,755.29 per head.